A Modern Phaethon. 201 



on his tombstone instead of this one which reflects 

 upon him. One of the party declared that the man 

 must have been the best workman on the place, and 

 that in America he would soon have owned the acres 

 he ploughed instead of ploughing here for some landlord 

 who spent the resources of the land in London or 

 on the continent. The poetess of the party was com- 

 missioned to provide a substitute for the obnoxious 

 verse which should applaud the act of this modern 

 Phaethon who would try to drive the wagon, after he 

 had learned all he could about ploughing. We were 

 driving homeward, and as the discussion ended in the 

 manner aforesaid, a sweet voice broke forth : 



" I winna hae the laddie that drives the cart and ploo, 

 Although he may be tender, although he may be true ; 

 But I'll hae the laddie that has my heart betrayed, 

 The bonnie shepherd laddie that wears the crook and plaid." 



The Charioteers gave it the swelling chorus : 



" For he's aye true to his lassie. 

 Aye true to his lassie, 

 Aye true to me." 



Who knows but the refusal of some rural beauty like 

 her of the song to have the laddie that " ca'd the ploo " 

 may have stirred our unfortunate youth to a change of 

 occupation? The "sex "is at the bottom of most of 

 man's misfortunes (and blessings too, let it be noted) 



